Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card vs United Club Card
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, United Club Card $695/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card on everyday spending, United Club Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican Express · $650/yr
United Club CardChase · $695/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card$650LowestUnited Club Card$695
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAs high as 125,000 miles — offers varyUnited Club CardUp to 100,000 miles
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMilesUnited Club CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardNoneUnited Club CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican ExpressUnited Club CardVisa Infinite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Hotels
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Ridesharing
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Transit
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xUnited Club Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xUnited Club Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $200 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
United Club Card- $200 Renowned Hotels
- $100 Avis/Budget travel
- $200/yr JSX flights
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 25% United inflight purchases · $25 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
United Club Card- $150/yr rideshare · $13 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $20/mo Resy · $20 monthly
United Club Card- $20/mo Instacart+ · $20 monthly
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Delta Sky Club access with unlimited visits after $75K spend
- Access to The Centurion® Lounge
United Club Card- United Club membership with guest access
- Hotel status & programs
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- MQD Headstart
- Access to Complimentary Upgrades
- MQD Boost
United Club Card- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
- Airline perks
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Annual First Class or Comfort+ companion certificate
- First & second bags free (2nd bag domestic only)
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
United Club Card- Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts each year
- Premier Access priority boarding and security lanes
- Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- Car rental
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card—United Club Card
- Avis President's Club®
- Other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- Concierge Services
- Upgrade Priority
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- No foreign transaction fees
United Club Card- 10% or more off United awards
- MileagePlus miles don't expire
- United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
- Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP)
- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 6 hours
United Club Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 12 hours
- Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
United Club Card- Baggage delay coverage $100/day up to 3 days
- Lost baggage coverage up to $3,000 per traveler
- Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Hertz President's Circle® Status
- Car rental insurance up to $75,000
United Club Card- Primary car rental insurance up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Up to $300 per item if merchant won't accept return
- Purchase protection for new items
United Club Card- Return Protection · up to $500
- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
United Club Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $800 cell phone protection per claim
United Club Card— - Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
United Club Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- 15 Delta Sky Club visits a year when flying Delta same-day, with unlimited access after $75,000 in card spend (estimated $600+ annual value)
- Annual First Class or Comfort+ companion certificate with no spend requirement
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus MQD Boost ($1 Medallion Qualification Dollar per $10 spent)
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
United Club Card- Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
- Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
- Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
- 5x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
- Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles
- Cons
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $650 annual fee is highest among Delta personal cards
- $175 authorized user fee adds significant cost for family travelers
- Sky Club access requires same-day Delta flight; no standalone entry
- Sky Club guest access is limited to four one-time guest passes a year
- Miles locked to Delta SkyMiles with limited transfer flexibility
United Club Card- $695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
- United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
- Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
- Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
- No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers
Expert Analysis
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and United Club Infinite Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card's strongest category is Delta Purchases at 3X, while the United Club Infinite Card leads with 4X on United Purchases. Overall, the United Club Infinite Card wins in more bonus categories (8 vs 2) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $650/yr vs $695/yr, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the more accessible option. The United Club Infinite Card needs to deliver at least $45 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers airport lounge access, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card earns 3X on Delta Purchases vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card earns 3X on Delta Airlines vs 1X for the other
- United Club Infinite Card earns 4X on United Purchases vs 1X for the other
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $695/yr — a $45 annual gap
- Different networks: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is AMEX, United Club Infinite Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on delta purchases
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on delta airlines
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on united purchases
United Club CardUnited Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 9,600 vs 2,400 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
$200/month on united airlines
United Club CardUnited Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 9,600 vs 2,400 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardWithout heavy spending in the United Club Infinite Card's premium categories, the $45 fee difference is hard to recover. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card if:
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on delta purchases and delta airlines and keeping annual costs low. At $650/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the United Club Card if:
The United Club Infinite Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and united airlines. At $695/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Cash back simplicity has its own appeal if you prefer straightforward rewards.
Category-by-Category Winner
The United Club Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card leads in 0.
Hotels
United Club Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
Travel
United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X
Dining
United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X
Ridesharing
United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X
Transit
United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | United Club Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: -$189 Year one: -$189 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: -$75 Year one: $1,005 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Club Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: $243 Year one: $243 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: $465 Year one: $1,545 | United Club Card | United Club Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The United Club Card costs $695/yr — that's $45 more than the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card ($650/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $45 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The United Club Card includes travel credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $45 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $45 fee gap means the United Club Card needs roughly $45 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and travel and everyday spend.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the United Club Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, United Club Card $695/yr — a $45 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the United Club Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The United Club Card costs $695/yr vs $650/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $45 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Club Card also lists lounge access, travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or United Club Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card have that the United Club Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or the United Club Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card has a lower $650/yr fee; the United Club Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $695/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.